Fortenberry Helps Introduce Family and Consumer Choice Act

Press Release

Fortenberry Helps Introduce Family and Consumer Choice Act

Congressman Jeff Fortenberry today joined colleague Congressman Dan Lipinski (D-IL) in introducing the Family and Consumer Choice Act of 2007. The legislation is designed to make television programming more suitable to family audiences and more flexible for consumers.

"Americans deserve better control over their cable bills and programming choices," Fortenberry said. "The Family and Consumer Choice Act offers reasonable options that are good both for the family and the consumer. It provides a balanced approach to the problem of violent and indecent programming on television, and it gives parents and consumers the power of choice, enabling them to make TV options more customized."

The Family and Consumer Choice Act would require any multi-channel video programming distributor (cable or satellite provider) to do one of the following: limit indecent programming during daylight hours, offer a family tier of programming, or offer an opt-out "a la carte" cable package to customers.

"Unlike other areas of the marketplace, Americans are not as free to choose among TV options," Fortenberry said. "They are locked into purchasing packages that many times provide them more than they want. They are offered ‘take it or leave it' TV, often with violent and unsuitable content. This legislation aims to give consumers better options."

Fortenberry announced the introduction of the legislation today at a Washington news conference. He was joined by Congressman Lipinski and Kevin Martin, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), who has been a vocal advocate of such change in television programming.

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